K-Pop Gets a Dose of Nostalgia as The Boyz Reunite After 12 Years
In an unexpected but heartwarming twist, fictional K-pop group The Boyz—portrayed by actors Uhm Jae-il (aka Uhm Jae Yi), TOPKEY, and DI—have made a splashy return to the real-world stage, 12 years after their fictional debut.
The trio originally existed within the universe of tvN’s popular drama ‘Resident Playbook’ (‘언젠가는 슬기로울 전공의생활’), where Uhm Jae-il had once been a performer under the name ‘Uhm Jae Yi.’ Their only hit song, “The Day Will Come,” remained their legacy—until now.
On February 22, The Boyz surprised fans with a nostalgic performance on Mnet’s ‘M Countdown’, marking their official debut into the K-pop canon with a special comeback stage. The performance wasn’t just a hit—it sent fans, dubbed ‘Hello Girl,’ spiraling into blissful nostalgia.
Mirroring the styling and sound of their fictional era, the group’s flawless visuals and tight choreography reminded fans of K-pop’s golden age. The YouTube video of their performance rocketed to No.3 on trending videos, and their song climbed to No. 20 on Korea’s Melon Top 100 chart, proving their influence is more than fiction.
The success wasn’t theirs alone. A dance challenge featuring cast members like Jung Joon-won, Go Youn-jung, Synia, and Han Ye-ji turned viral almost overnight. Especially notable was the character ‘Kim Sabi’ achieving fan status after meeting her bias, TOPKEY—blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Fans also credited the heartfelt support from celebrities like Kang You-seok and Tomorrow X Together’s Yeonjun and Soobin, who brought life to the characters through deeply immersive roleplay. Their commitment and charm even inspired netizens to join in the fun, commenting enthusiastically: “A rare 4-minute track in today’s idol scene,” “He’s an actor but finds the camera and nails choreo like a pro,” and “Kang You-seok is a professional idol now—let’s get them to a year-end stage!”
The comeback of The Boyz reveals not just the nostalgia K-pop can evoke, but also the blurred lines where TV magic meets real-world fandom—and fans are loving every second.
